Adam Greenberg talks about his chance with the Marlins, gets surprise call from owner Jeffrey Loria

Adam Greenberg spoke with reporters on a conference all this morning about his chance bat for the Marlins on Tuesday in Miami against the New York Mets.

At the end of the call, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria broke in and spoke to Greenberg. Here’s an edited transcript starting with Greenberg’s opening remarks to reporters.

“No organization or major league baseball or anything owed anything to me. So this opportunity is beyond appreciated by myself, my family, my wife, my friends who have been supporting me, Matt Liston, the One At Bat Campaign.
“I just really wanted to make sure that everyone understands that this is an amazing thing for not just for me but for a lot of people. It shows a lot of what hard work and determination and a positive outlook on things, so hopefully this goes way beyond this one at-bat and beyond sports.”

What do you say to all the minor league players who’ve been working hard for a chance to get in majors? Does this subvert the system?

“That’s a great question and I have had to battle that myself since the campaign started. This was never a gimmick. I got to the major leagues on my own merit. I worked up through the ranks as little kid and all the way up. I earned that spot seven years ago. The fact that this is not just my first at-bat, I think that’s important. It’s not just, ‘ah, poor kid, let’s just give him a shot.’

“I think this speaks a lot greater to the fact that I never did give up… I’m no different or more special than anyone else. It just so happened that my story was the Sunday Night Baseball game on ESPN and it was the first pitch I ever saw and I got hit in the back of my head…

“The fact that I never gave up…and pushed through, all of it, the support that I’ve gotten from former players, from current players, Hall of Fame baseball players, to me that’s beyond real. It’s OK to be happy and accept this and it’s not just bypassing the system because the system is there for a reason. Guys have to go through the ranks and they have to prove themselves each step of the way. I feel like I have done that in the past and I still had an opportunity these last two weeks to play in the World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament.

“It was a chance for me to showcase my skills and have the Marlins be there to watch me and show them that I can’t still play at the highest level. It’s just an amazing feeling and I’m obviously overwhelmed with emotion.”

Are you feeling any physical effects?

“Physically I feel great. I battled a lot of the head injuries and vision issues for a couple of years. In 2009 after the season I had shoulder surgery – I dove for a ball and had seven anchors put in my shoulder.

“I am mentally, physically as ready for this moment as I have ever been and I welcome it with open arms.”

If this chance had not surfaced, how long would you have continued playing?

“I’ve got to be honest this year, I didn’t play the season. It was the campaign and Matt re-lighting that fire in a show of support of people wanting me to keep going. It forced me to get back in cage and train and I worked with my hitting coach and get my mind back on the game enough to where I wanted this more than ever.

“To say when I would have given up on the dream? It started to fade. Three years in independent baseball is a tough road but I couldn’t be more blessed to have that campaign, what Matt did. It just shows power of the human spirit and what people can do, because they helped me.

“Everyone helped me to get myself back to this point. I keep saying, it’s just so much bigger than baseball.”

What kind of message do you hope this leaves?

“I believe that’s why there has been a lot more support than cynics and critics out there because that’s what it’s about. Life’s going to throw you curveballs or fastball to the back of your head, you know? I got hit by one of them and it knocked me down. I could have stayed there. I had a choice. I could’ve said ‘Poor me. This is horrible.’ But I chose to get up and get back in the box.

“That’s kind of the message to everyone. No matter what is going on in their own persona life, get back up. Keep going. And if you do that, good things do happen. Sometimes it takes seven years. But you know? Anything is possible and this just shows what’s possible.”

What do you think it will be like to stand in the batter’s box on Tuesday?

“A dream come true, part two. I think I’m more prepared emotionally for this because of everything that has gone on the last few years of ups and down, the support that has gone on and the amount of people I know already, friends and family that are going to be at that game and what it means to so many people.

“When I get in the box, it’s game time. My job is going to be to get on base, any means necessary, create a run. When I create a run for the team, it gives them one better shot to win a game…

“I’m not coming back for money or publicity. I’m coming back to try to help an organization win games to ultimately win a championship because that’s what you play for…”

RA Dickey throws a knuckle ball.

“RA Dickey going for his 20th win and the knuckleball, hey, I don’t care. Somebody can underhand the ball. Somebody can throw it 120 or throw a knuckleball. It doesn’t matter…

“It’s already a success no matter what happens in the box, but to experience what it feels like in a major league park in a major league game and hearing my name announced and digging into that batter’s box, I mean, that is truly what it’s about…. It doesn’t matter if I get a hit or I don’t. It’s already been a success.”

Your thoughts about going back to Miami, returning to the scene of where you were hit.

“It’s obviously ironic to say the least… The whole thing is just ironic. Going back to the scene of the crime but a different location, I look at it as a new stadium, new start. For me its just down the street but it’s a new opportunity.

“It’s really cool and special to have the Marlins recognize all of this and have it come full circle with them. It’s just so gratifying and rewarding and special…”

Will you lead off? Play the field?

“None of the details that I know of are worked out. I just know that I’ll get a shot in the batter’s box. If I get to play on the field, that’s part of the game. That’s what I love to do….

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity and this atbat is just this one atbat. But my career is not done. I’m not going to stop from here. I’m hopefully that an opportunity will come to fruition where a spring training opportunity will be there so I can go out for real and re-earn that spot on the field so I can become part of the team in I guess the normal way if you will…

“If Ozzie calls my number when he does, as long as it lasts or as short as it doesn’t I’ll be ready any way shape or form.”

How did the Marlins’ involvement with you unfold?

“I was told Sunday night after our game. Mr. Samson called Matt Liston’s phone and Matt put it on speaker after a crushing loss and I say that with all sincerity. Losing the championship in a WBC qualifier for Team Israel, it was very, very tough night. It was a five-hour game. We lost in extra innings. Team Israel is not going to have a chance to play in the World Baseball Classic in March. So I was kind if down in the dumps saying goodbye to an unbelievable group of people, teammates.

“It was about 11 o’clock at night. Matt wired me up and had his camera crew. I told him before he put the camera in front of my face, I said, ‘Matt, there’ snot much you’re going to be able to say that’s going to make me be able to act like I’m happy, so I’m just telling you right now.

“He put Mr. Samson on the phone. Put it on speaker. Mr. Samson basically told me, he knew about my story. He saw what happened seven years ago and my story was brought to his attention not too long ago. And he looked into it along with the rest of the Marlins ownership and the long and short of it is he said he would be honored and the Marlins’ organization would be honored to give me a one-day contract and opportunity. I broke down in tears that night and every time. I had to keep it under wraps until today.

“It was a crazy wild ride of emotions to have to keep something like this in. But today even hearing him say it again, I teared up. It’s that meaningful to me that they’re giving me this opportunity.”

Have the Marlins talked to you about a chance next season?

“No. I haven’t had any of those conversations at all. For me this is one step at a time….That’s as far as we have gone… I’m going to have this at-bat and enjoy every moment of it…”

What do you remember of that pitch in 2005?

“The interesting part for me is, while I lost control of my eyes and through my head was split open, I never truly lost consciousness. I was aware of everything that was going on. I can vividly remember the ball leaving his hand to me turning to actually getting struck and knowing exactly what it felt like and being scared for my life.

“The only thing I did, I grabbed my head… I kept saying, ‘Stay alive.’ I just repeated that numerous times. That’ll never leave me… I kind of look at it and think about it as a movie that I’ve seen so many times… I’ve kind of removed my emotions from it. And that helps me get back in the box and not worry about it and think that it could happen again.”

Have you ever faced a knuckleballer?

“Yeah… Obviously nobody as big as he is. He’s going for his 20th win in the major leagues as a knuckleballer. He’s more than knuckleballer. He’s a great pitcher. If it is him what better way to go at this than by facing one of the best in the game.”

Adam, this is (Marlins owner) Jeff Loria. I was in the ballpark the night you got struck and I can only say that your recovery and your desire is unparalleled. We are real happy to have you have this opportunity and I look forward to seeing you next week.

“I’m going to tell you the same thing you just heard: You have by far shown me and a lot of people what it’s like to just be an unbelievable human being. Those words just resonate with me and so many others.
“I’m going to say it again, I’m going to give you a hug, if that’s OK with you. I just thank you for the opportunity and I won’t let you down.”

I get hugs all the time and this will be a special one. I look forward to seeing you.